Subsoiler



q Feb. 15, 1955 FORGY 2,701,995

SUBSOILER Original Filed Oct. 4, 1949 i INVENTOR.

Robert H. For-9y.

United States Patent SUBSOILER Robert H. Forgy, Centralia, Kans.

1 Claim. (Cl. 97-78) This application is a division of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 119,441, filed October 4, 1949, now Patent No.2,672,084.

This invention relates to agricultural implements and is moreparticularly concerned with plows for breaking soil below the groundlevel. Such implements are usually referred to as subsoilers.

Ordinary plows operate generally to break the soil, lift it and thenturn it over in forming furrows, thereby burying the top soil andvegetation associated with it. Recent trends in farming practiceindicate that it is more desirable not to ply under this part of theground but instead to break the subsoil without materially disturbingthe top soil and its vegetation from the standpoint of erosion control,irrigation and plant growth. That is to say, it is desirable to lift thetop soil with the turf and then permit the same to fall back with thevegetation exposed thereon so that such vegetation and root systems forma natural mat or cover which acts as a protective cover against windwhile, at the same time, permitting water to readily infiltrate andrendering subsequent earth preparing operations more effective than canbe had with the usual plow.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a subsoilerwhich acts to cut the soil horizontally below ground level, elevate thesoil out of the ground and then drop it back into place withoutmaterially disturbing the top soil and vegetation therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a subsoilerwhich requires only a small amount of power to operate it.

A further object is to provide a subsoiler which includes substantiallyno obstructions to the soil as it is being elevated and dropped backinto place.

A still further object is to provide a subsoiler which is simple inconstruction, inexpensive to assemble and which is readily attachable toa tractor or other draft means.

A still further obiect is the provision of a subsoiler comprising aplurality of similar units removably connected together in such a manneras to permit changing the width of the swath thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe following description con sidered together with the accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the; invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the tool carrier strap members.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the spacer members.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, in

which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustratedcomprises a plurality of similar U-shaped tool carrier strap members 11having each a pair of arms 12 and 13 of equal length joined by atransverse bight portion 14 at the rear.

Between consecutive members 11, there is disposed U-shaped spacers 15having each a pair of arms 16 and 17 of equal length but shorter thanthe arms 12 and 13 of the members 11. The arms 16 and 17 are joined by atransverse bight portion 18 at the rear.

The arms 16 and 17 are provided with apertures 19' and 20, respectively,which register with corresponding apertures 21 and 22, respectively, ofthe arms 12 and 13. Each pair of corresponding apertures is providedwith bolts 23 which serve to rigidly connect the members 11 and spacers15 together in side by side relation as shown in Fig. 1.

As many of the members 11 may be used as desired to provide for anydesired width of swath.

The front ends of arms 12 and 13 are provided with shoulders 24 slopingdownward toward the front to which is secured, by welding or othersuitable means, a frog or support 25. Said frog or support is adapted toremovably carry an earth working tool, such as a cutting blade 26. Theblades 26 are attached to the frogs 25 by means of bolts 27 passingthrough apertures in the blade and apertures in the frog.

The assembly as a whole is supported on two parallel horizontal beams 28and 29 which are spaced apart a distance corresponding to at least theswath of the completed assembly. Vertical portions 30 and 31 extenddownwardly from one end of said beams and have their lower ends 32 and33 inwardly offset to abut the sides of the assembly to which they aresecured by means of bolts 34 and 35. These bolts pass through aperturesin the said lower ends 32 and 33 and corresponding apertures of theassembly, which may be the apertures 20 and 21, as shown. The lower ends32 and 33 are below the level of the upper ends of the blades 25 so thatearth moving over said blades will not come in contact with any part ofthe vertical portions 30 and 31.

I claim:

A subsoiler assembly comprising a row of similar U-shaped strap members,said strap members being disposed in side by side relation, each memberhaving arms of equal length parallel to each other, the arms of eachmember being spaced apart and connected together by a transverse bightportion at the rear, said arms having aligned apertures, securing boltsin said apertures to connect the arm of each member directly to theadjacent arm of its adjacent member in the row, the arms of some of saidmembers being longer than and extending forwardly beyond the arms oftheir adjacent members and having their forward ends sloping downwardlyand forwardly, a tool supportable frog on the sloping forward ends ofsaid longer arms, and means for attaching an earth working tool to eachfrog.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS448,740 Mitchell Mar. 24, 1891 473,517 Mitchell Apr. 26, 1892 902,075Hamilton Oct. 27, 1908 1,642,301 Forgy Sept. 13, 1927 2,296,605 ForgySept. 22, 1942 2,625,870 Peacock et al. Ian. 20, 1953

